Portimão
| Portimão | |||
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| Municipality | |||
Praia da Rocha in Portimão
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| Coordinates: 37°8′13″N 8°32′18″W / 37.13694°N 8.53833°WCoordinates: 37°8′13″N 8°32′18″W / 37.13694°N 8.53833°W | |||
| Country |
 Portugal
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| Region | Algarve | ||
| Subregion | Algarve | ||
| Intermunic. comm. | Algarve | ||
| District | Faro | ||
| Parishes | 3 | ||
| Government | |||
| • President | Manuel António da Luz (PS) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 182.06 km2 (70.29 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2011) | |||
| • Total | 55,614 | ||
| • Density | 310/km2 (790/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | WET/WEST (UTC+0/+1) | ||
| Postal code | 8500 | ||
| Patron | Imaculada Conceição | ||
| Website | http://www.cm-portimao.pt | ||
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Portimão (Portuguese pronunciation: [puɾtiˈmɐ̃w]) is a town (Portuguese: cidade) and a municipality in the district of Faro, in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. The population in 2011 was 55,614, in an area of 182.06 km². It was formerly known as Vila Nova de Portimão (IPA: [ˈvilɐ ˈnɔvɐ ðɨ puɾtiˈmɐ̃w]). In 1924, it was incorporated as a cidade and became known merely as Portimão. Historically a fishing and shipbuilding centre, it has nonetheless developed into a strong tourist centre oriented along its beaches and southern coast. The two most populous towns in the Algarve are Portimão and Faro.
The area was settled during the prehistoric epoch: the Cynetes, influenced by the Celts and Tartessos lived during the Algarve for many centuries. In the area of Alcalar there are several remnants of Neolithic funerary sites of which only one, monument number seven, comprising a circular chamber composed of schist stone and long corridor, remains. Comparable to western European and Irish monuments, the funeral crypt, with two lateral ritual niches, was protected by a tumulus: a similar site exists in Monte Canelas. The mouth of the Arade River proved an important natural shelter, that soon became a small commercial port for the Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians. These Carthaginians eventually founded Portis Hanibalis, later known as Portimão around 550 BC, which eventually turned into a Roman-era centre due to its excellent port.
Obvious vestiges of the Roman occupation are situated near Figueira, in the zone of Abicada, in the confluence of two rivers, where the remains of various rooms were unearthed. Also, in the area of Coca Maravilhas was discovered a well-preserved period cistern, while along the Arade River there have been identified gold coins.
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